Hood hinge for a front hood of a vehicle having movable support of a lifting actuator

Abstract

A hood hinge for a front hood of a vehicle includes a hinge lower part for attachment to a vehicle body, a hinge upper part for attachment to the front hood, and first and second link levers to connect the hinge lower part to the hinge upper part. A lifting actuator is connected to the hinge lower part via a bearing element and undergoes a change in length in relation to the bearing element between a passive state and an activated active state to raise the hinge upper part. A release device is operatively connected to the bearing element for releasing the telescoping function of the first link lever. The release device is actuated when the bearing element moves from a rest position to an active position.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A hood hinge for a front hood of a vehicle, said hood hinge comprising:
 a hinge lower part for attachment to a vehicle body; 
 a bearing element movably mounted in the hinge lower part; 
 a hinge upper part for attachment to the front hood; 
 first and second link levers connecting the hinge lower part with the hinge upper part, with the first link lever being constructed telescopically and its telescopic function being lockable; 
 a lifting actuator connected to the hinge lower part via the bearing element and configured to undergo a change in length in relation to the bearing element between a passive state and an activated active state to raise the hinge upper part, with the bearing element assuming a rest position in the passive state of the lifting actuator and with the bearing element being moved to an active position, when the lifting actuator is activated; and 
 a release device in operative connection with the bearing element for releasing the telescopic function of the first link lever, with the release device being actuated, when the bearing element is moved from the rest position to the active position. 
 
     
     
       2. The hood hinge of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge lower part includes an oblong hole, in which the bearing element is movably mounted between the rest position and the active position. 
     
     
       3. The hood hinge of  claim 1 , further comprising a spring element constructed to bias the bearing element so as to seek the rest position. 
     
     
       4. The hood hinge of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking element constructed to lock the telescopic function of the first link lever. 
     
     
       5. The hood hinge of  claim 4 , wherein the release device is constructed as release lever which is swingably arranged in the hinge lower part and which is swingably connected to the bearing element and coupled with the locking element such that the locking element is actuated for releasing the telescopic function of the first link lever, when the bearing element is moved from the rest position to the active position. 
     
     
       6. The hood hinge of  claim 5 , wherein the locking element is constructed as a locking lever which is swingably mounted in the hinge lower part for locking the telescopic function of the first link lever and for releasing the telescopic function of the first link lever which is coupled to the release lever. 
     
     
       7. The hood hinge of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator holder in which the lifting actuator is movably mounted, said actuator holder being arranged on the hinge lower part. 
     
     
       8. The hood hinge of  claim 1 , wherein the lifting actuator includes an actuator housing and an actuator tappet movable out of the actuator housing into the active state. 
     
     
       9. The hood hinge of  claim 8 , wherein the actuator housing of the lifting actuator is connected to the bearing element. 
     
     
       10. The hood hinge of  claim 1 , wherein the lifting actuator is constructed as a pyrotechnic actuator. 
     
     
       11. The hood hinge of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge upper part includes a lower hinge upper part and an upper hinge upper part which is pivotally connected to the lower hinge upper part, and further comprising a further locking element configured to lock a swinging movement between the upper and lower hinge upper parts, with the change in length of the lifting actuator actuating the further locking element for releasing the swinging movement between the lower hinge part and the hinge upper part.